Using GL Actor (moves very slowly)

[Sergio]

I am starting to use, by the first time the TGLactor components. I used most of the samples and they work well and the actors move wald or run with a "normal "speed.
Then I took the component and configurations in the sample Skeletal exactly ( I hope) as they are in the sample to my code. In my code have several components (see attached figure). When I put the actor to walk it moves in a extremely low speed ( FPS ~0 )
Question 1) Is this caused by a worng configuration in my code or because there are many components. I am noting that when I save the code it is saving slowlyas whwn we have a big code (it is not the case). Below i copies the relevant part ofthe code (it is big to put everything)

IN THE FORMCREATE EVENT
pathMainDir:=ExtractFilePath(Application.ExeName);
// SetGLSceneMediaDir(); ver post do Jerome 3/6/2017
SetCurrentDir( pathMainDir+'\Media') ;
Actor1.LoadFromFile('trinityRage.smd');
// Load the walk & run animations and "fix" their translation
// (HL walk/run animations have a built-in "slide" that we don't want here)
Actor1.AddDataFromFile('walk.smd');
Actor1.Animations[1].MakeSkeletalTranslationStatic;
Actor1.AddDataFromFile('run.smd');
Actor1.Animations[2].MakeSkeletalTranslationStatic;
// Then load the two jumps
Actor1.AddDataFromFile('long_jump.smd');
Actor1.AddDataFromFile('jump.smd');
// And the 'look_left_right' blending animations, that we immediately
// assign to the controler. The MakeSkeletalRotationDelta removes absolute
// information from the SMD (which HL may use, but GLScene doesn't)
Actor1.AddDataFromFile('look_left_right.smd');

Actor1.Animations[5].MakeSkeletalRotationDelta;
AnimationControler1.AnimationName:='look_left_right';
// Skeleton visible, and start with walk animation
// (pseudo-animation 0 is for the static model in its default attitude)
Actor1.OverlaySkeleton:=True;
baseAnimation:='walk';
Actor1.SwitchToAnimation(baseAnimation);

CBSkeletonClick(self); //skeletor
Actor1.Scale.SetVector(0.04, 0.04, 0.04, 0);
Actor1.Position.SetPoint(20, 1, 10);
AnimateSFCClick(self);
Show;
end;

IN THE BUTTON TO START ANIMATION
if AnimateSFC.ItemIndex=2 then
begin
timer1.Enabled:=true;
Running:= true;
Actor1.AnimationMode := aamLoop;
with GLcadencer1 do
begin
Enabled:=true;
MaxDeltaTime :=0.01;
Mode:=cmASAP;
timeMultiplier:= time_multiplier; //
timeReference:= cmPerformanceCounter;
end;
VIEW.ResetPerformanceMonitor;

THE OTHER PARTS ARE EQUAL TO THE SAMPLE SKELETAL

[Sergio]

The attachment

QUESTION 2) Whwn I close the screen I am getting an error in GLwin32Viewer uit (access violation)

function TGLSceneViewer.FramesPerSecond: Single;
begin
Result := FBuffer.FramesPerSecond;
end;

QUESTION 3)
Where can I find some other types of actor models different from the ones in the samples ? For example a worker with a hat in the head
Thanks in advance

[Sergio]

I tried in another computer and it is also very slow but slightly better. Is there anything I can try to do ?
Please help me

[Jerome.D (BeanzMaster)]

I Sergio first what the FPS without Actor ?
How do you manage and handle actor moves ?

[Sergio]

Thanks Jerome I am mounting all the components again to check if there is any "hidden" prblem causing the almost zero FPS when I put the actor inside my code (although runs very well in the sample code).I will wrirte again after posting the code

[Jerome.D (BeanzMaster)]

Ok but tell me FPS without Actor, please and how many objects/Faces you display.
Perhaps, for having better performances, you can try Object Sorting property. If you have duplicated object try to play with ProxyObject
How is the structure of your scene

it is something like this ?

• Root
  • UserInterface
  • World
    • GlobalLights
      • Light1
      • Light2
    • WorldCameras
      • Camera
    • House
      • Room 1
        • RoomLights
          • Light1
      • Walls
      • Technicals
        • ElectricWire1
        • ElectricWire2
    • Player
      • Actor

[Sergio]

Hi Jerome The structure is the one you may see in the attachment. Some 30 other 30 components are created in runtime but nothing special (cibes, cylinders, ellisoids) .
Unfortunately the other procedure that generate the positions and coordinates of the components used in the scene is so big and confusing that I cannot separate both and post here.
I went to measure the FPS without actor and I noticed that there is something strange with my current version of the code. Another animation , without actor, which works well for a long time is also more slow than before.
So decided to re-make my code putting the actor and all the components in a copy of the (very good) GLSviewer sample. When it is ready, in few days, I will post and comment here.what happened .
Thanks again for the help

[Sergio]

Low here means without actor FPS around 3 with code below creating some spheres

procedure TF_3DD.GLCadencer1Progress(Sender: TObject; const deltaTime, newTime: Double);
var velocitySphere:single;
begin
if ((running=true) and (countSpheres < NmaxSpheres)) then
begin
StaticText1.Caption:=IntToStr(Trunc(VIEW.FramesPerSecond))+' FPS';

if Assigned(delBeh) then begin
delBeh.Behaviours.Clear;
delBeh := nil;
end;

Spheres[countSpheres] := TGLSphere(DC1.AddNewChild(TGLSphere));

with Spheres[countSpheres] do
begin
name := 'Spheres_'+IntToStr(countSpheres);;
radius := 0.01;

  position.x := centroXlancador   + RandomRange(-5,5) * 0.2 * raiolancador ;
  position.y := centroYlancador   + RandomRange(-5,5) * 0.2 * raiolancador ;
  position.z := centroZlancador   + RandomRange(-5,5) * 0.2 * raiolancador ;
  alvo:= AffineVectorMake(alvoX,alvoY,alvoZ);
  Direction.AsAffineVector:= VectorNormalize(VectorSubtract(alvo,position.AsAffinevector));

  if countSpheres <= trunc(NmaxSpheres/4) then
    begin
      Material.FrontProperties.Emission.Color:=clrBlue;
      velocitySphere:= 3;
    end
  else
    begin
       Material.FrontProperties.Emission.Color:=clrRed;
       velocitySphere:=  10;
     end;

  totalTime:= totalTime + deltaTime;
  edTotalTime.Text:= FloattoStrF(totalTime,ffFixed,10,1);
end ;      //   else do  if countSpheres <= trunc(NmaxSpheres/3) then

CreateDynamicBehaviour_Sphere_Velocity (dynSphere,Spheres[countSpheres],velocitySphere);

Inc(countSpheres);
edcountSpheres.text := FloattoStrF(countSpheres, ffFixed, 10, 1);
pnlDimensoesGL.Repaint;
GLODEManager1.Step(deltaTime);
VIEW.Update ;
end;
end;

[Jerome.D (BeanzMaster)]

Hi Sergio, humm difficult to tell what is wrong but from the sample above.
1st advice : Don't Create directly object at runtime in Cadencer progess function
2nd : "edTotalTime.Text:=:"; "edcountSpheres.text:=" place there in a TTimer instead
3rd : Instead of VIEW.Update ; use Invalidate

An Another question whats the FPS Without ODE ?

Another thing disable .$DEFINE GLS_LOGGING} in GLScene.Inc. By Using Looger, performance decrease

[Sergio]

Hi Jerome Thanks for the indications . I started to do a new cleaner code following the several suggestions. I started creating, as base for the new code, the sample GLSviewer because there are several good resources there.
I inserted in GLSviewer code the lines of sample Skeletal with actor. It is working properly but I have some doubts and things to correct. Maybe you can help me.
The code is attached (Delphi Seattle + GLscene). If you compile and run it you will see the GLSviewer screen plus a panel to control the actor (upper part.)
Check the box ANIMATE and the actor will appear walking with good FPS.

DOUBT 1) When I try to chnge "walk" by "run" or check the other boxes to jump , it does not work because the small panel (and other functions of GLSviewer became "disabled". I did not insert anything to disable the functions. Possibly is something inside GLSviewer . I could not find where the problem is.

Doubt 2) FormMouseWheel works well for mesh objects . How to do to make it work for non-me objects ? T tried to remove the line " if ffObject.MeshObjects.Count > 0 then" but the result was not good.

Other points: I am tryig to include a path control for the actor ( I wil need this after)
Now I will start to inclusde the components of my previous code here to see how things wil work.

By the way: can anyone tell me where I can find other models of "actors" different fro the ones in the GLscene samples ?

[Jerome.D (BeanzMaster)]

Hi Sergio i taked a look to your sample, just some minors change ( cosmetics refines)
but not see a real problem it run well on my pc with Lazarus (take the "Examples/editors/scenemaster" as base and it turn around between 360 and 400fps in debug mode (i've a NVidia GTX 1070 8go)

procedure TMainForm.FormCreate(Sender: TObject);
begin
  inherited;
  GetCurrentDir;
  NavCube := TGLNavCube.CreateAsChild(GLScene.Objects);
  NavCube.SceneViewer := GLSViewer;
  NavCube.Camera:=Camera1;
  NavCube.ActiveMouse:=True;
 // NavCube.AutoRotate:=False;
  NavCube.FPS := 30;

 // instantiate our specific hidden-lines shader
 // hlShader := THiddenLineShader.Create(Self);
  ffObject.IgnoreMissingTextures := True;

  Screen.Cursors[crLightxy] := LoadCursorFromRes('LIGHTXY');
  Screen.Cursors[crLightyz] := LoadCursorFromRes('LIGHTYZ');
  Screen.Cursors[crLightxz] := LoadCursorFromRes('LIGHTXZ');
  Screen.Cursors[crSlidexy] := LoadCursorFromRes('SLIDEXY');
  Screen.Cursors[crSlidexz] := LoadCursorFromRes('SLIDEXZ');
  Screen.Cursors[crSlideyz] := LoadCursorFromRes('SLIDEYZ');
  Screen.Cursors[crRotate]  := LoadCursorFromRes('ROTATE');
  Screen.Cursors[crZoom]    := LoadCursorFromRes('ZOOM');
  Screen.Cursors[crSlidezy] := LoadCursorFromRes('SLIDEZY');
end;

procedure TMainForm.FormShow(Sender: TObject);
begin
  ShowCameraLocation;
  ShowFocalLength;
  ShowTargetLocation;
  ShowLightLocation;

  OpenDialog.Filter := VectorFileFormatsFilter;
  SaveDialog.Filter := VectorFileFormatsSaveFilter;

  ASyncTimer.Enabled:=true;
  //ApplyFSAA;
  //ApplyFaceCull;
  //ApplyFPS;
end;  

procedure TMainForm.CadencerProgress(Sender: TObject; const deltaTime,
  newTime: Double);
begin
  if NavCube.InactiveTime > 5 then
  begin
    if NavCube.InactiveTime < 8 then
      Camera1.TurnAngle := Camera1.TurnAngle + (NavCube.InactiveTime - 5) * deltaTime * 2
    else
      Camera1.TurnAngle := Camera1.TurnAngle + deltatime * 6;
  end;
  GLSViewer.Refresh;
  if Self.Focused then
    GLSViewer.Invalidate;
end;   

// TGLASyncTimer instead of TTimer
procedure TMainForm.ASyncTimerTimer(Sender: TObject);
begin
  ShowCameraLocation;
  ShowFocalLength;
  ShowTargetLocation;
  ShowLightLocation;
  MainStatusBar.Panels[4].Text := Format('%.1f  FPS', [GLSViewer.FramesPerSecond]);
  GLSViewer.ResetPerformanceMonitor;
end;  

procedure TMainForm.btnActorBlendClick(Sender: TObject);
begin
     if chkActorBlend.Checked then begin
      AnimationControler1.Actor:=GLActor1;
      TrackBar1Change(Self);
   end else AnimationControler1.Actor:=nil;
end;

procedure TMainForm.btnJumpHighClick(Sender: TObject);
begin
  GLActor1.SwitchToAnimation(4, True);
end;

procedure TMainForm.btnJumpLongClick(Sender: TObject);
begin
  GLActor1.SwitchToAnimation(3, True);
end;

procedure TMainForm.btnLoadActorClick(Sender: TObject);
var pathMainDir :string;
begin
   pathMainDir:=ExtractFilePath(Application.ExeName);
   SetCurrentDir( pathMainDir+'Media') ;
   with GLActor1 do
   begin
     LoadFromFile('trinityRage.smd');
     AddDataFromFile('walk.smd');
     Animations[1].MakeSkeletalTranslationStatic;
     AddDataFromFile('run.smd');
     Animations[2].MakeSkeletalTranslationStatic;
     AddDataFromFile('long_jump.smd');
     AddDataFromFile('jump.smd');
     AddDataFromFile('look_left_right.smd');
     Animations[5].MakeSkeletalRotationDelta;
     AnimationControler1.AnimationName:='look_left_right';
     OverlaySkeleton:=True;
     baseAnimation:='run';
     SwitchToAnimation(baseAnimation);
     Scale.X:= 0.05;                                      // SFC
     Scale.Y:= 0.05;                                      // SFC
     Scale.Z:= 0.05;                                       // SFC
     Position.X:= 0;                                      // SFC
     Position.Y:= BoundingSphereRadius;            // SFC
     Position.Z:= 0;
   end;
   if chkActorAnimate.Checked then
   begin
     GLActor1.AnimationMode := aamLoop;
   end
 else
   begin
    GLActor1.AnimationMode := aamNone;
   // Cadencer.Enabled := false;
   // timer.Enabled:= false;
   end;
   GLActor1.StructureChanged;
end;

procedure TMainForm.btnRunClick(Sender: TObject);
begin
  baseAnimation:='run';
  GLActor1.SwitchToAnimation(baseAnimation, True);
end;

procedure TMainForm.btnWalkClick(Sender: TObject);
begin
  baseAnimation:='walk';
  GLActor1.SwitchToAnimation(baseAnimation, True);
end;  

[Jerome.D (BeanzMaster)]

When I try to chnge "walk" by "run" or check the other boxes to jump , it does not work because the small panel (and other functions of GLSviewer became "disabled". I did not insert anything to disable the functions. Possibly is something inside GLSviewer . I could not find where the problem is.

ouch, i'm remember it is due to the fu....ing "mouse.CursorPos := " lines code in navcube unit.
This make you lost focus, and cause many trouble with mouse just try the "Alt-Tab" shortcut and move mouse

So this is the NavCube unit i've modified for Lazarus

[Sergio]

Hi Jerome First of all thank you very much for your help above. I followed your suggestions and it worked well. The file is attached. I included also a kind of path control for the actor.
Really, as you mentioned, the jump , run and other buttons stopped to be "disabled" only after I changed the unit UNavCube of the GLSviewer sample by your version.
Using the one in the original sample does not work.
For the path control, I added the TGLmovement using what is in the sample Behaviors \ Path Control . The basic thing work but I need to adapt it to use with the actor.

My doubts are:
Doubt 1) I inserted a path using the nodes showed in the attached code . The actor does the path just one time returning to the original position. How to use TGLmovement to maintain the actor repeating the path automatically without stopping? If I wanted to do only 2 or 3 times I could doa loop but I imagine that the component has some property to to do the repetitions.

Doubt 2) When the actor is walking, . is not looking straight in the same direction of the TGLmovement. It is not also remaining in the “vertical” position. How to maintain the actor looking more or less well to the path ? ( the ideal would be walking in the white line)

Doubt3) I adjusted manually the actor1.Position.Y in such a way that the feet touch the floor (gridXYZ). Using the bounding sphere do not work well. Is there any way to do it automatically?

Doubt 4) I am trying now to find a way (using collisions) to make the actor to deviate from the obstacle (GLsuperellipsoid) Just in the middle of the path making it to deviate and returning to the original programed path. The idea is to deviate walking through the side or simply jumping. If anyone have a simple code from some game it is welcome. I will post the final code result, when working, here.

Thanks again

[Jerome.D (BeanzMaster)]

Hi Sergio,

I'll try TGLMovement is a little straight i think

Doubt 1)

Doubt 2) Yep one of the solution is to set Rotation for each node, and add many many more node (check CampPath demo in examples branch, it use simple TGLLine but concept is the same
I've not managed to do the work properly (the best i give is with a DummyCube that follow node path and DummyCube as parent of Actor by setting correctly there Pitch and Roll property

in cadencer i added this

Movement := GetMovement(GLActor1);
// pathcreated just check if Path is Created else get AV 
  if chkPath.Checked and pathcreated then
  begin
    Step:=Movement.Paths.Items[0].CurrentNodeIndex;
    if Step <= Movement.Paths.Items[0].Nodes.Count-1 then
    begin
     //   GLCube1.Position.SetPoint(GLLines2.Nodes.Items[step].AsVector);
        DCFollowCube.Position.SetPoint(Movement.Paths.Items[0].Nodes.Items[step + 1].PositionAsVector);

        //Points cube to the next point on the camera path
        DCActor.PointTo( DCFollowCube,YHmgVector);

     end
     else
      begin
        Step := 0;
      end;   

2nd solution improve TGLMovement for make more soft travel; by compute (base on quadratic --> eg 4 points angle (up and direction) or one of Turn, Roll, Picth angle.

I tried this in GLMovement.Pas; Take a look in the comment code.
I'm near the solution but it will be in the procedure who compute the actual position on the path. But don't found yet where it is hidden.
I've also a doubt with my formulas i don't sure there right i'm not good enough in math. If someone can check :)

//Calculate functions add into this method
procedure TGLMovement.DoProgress(const progressTime : TProgressTimes);
var
  Path: TGLMovementPath;
  AngleVect : TAffineVector;
  Idx :Integer;
  NodePoint1, NodePoint2,
  NodePoint3, NodePoint4 : TGLPathNode;
  TempNode : TGLPathNode;

  absDir, absRight, absUp: TVector;

begin
  if (FActivePathIndex >= 0) and (Paths[FActivePathIndex].InTravel) then
    begin
      Path := Paths[FActivePathIndex];
      Path.CalculateState(progressTime.newTime);
      if Assigned(Path.CurrentNode) then
      begin
        NodePoint1 :=Path.CurrentNode;

        if Owner.Owner is TGLBaseSceneObject then
          with TGLBaseSceneObject(Owner.Owner) do
          begin
            case Path.FRotationMode of
              rmTurnPitchRoll:
              begin
                (*    EXPERIMENTAL CODE

                 Idx := Path.CurrentNodeIndex;
                 if idx < Path.Nodes.Count-1 then
                 begin
                   NodePoint4 := Path.Nodes.Items[Idx+1];
                   AngleVect := VectorAngleLerp(AffineVectorMake(NodePoint1.PositionAsVector),AffineVectorMake(NodePoint4.PositionAsVector),progressTime.deltaTime);

// OR ???
//VectorLerp(AffineVectorMake(NodePoint1.PositionAsVector),AffineVectorMake(NodePoint4.PositionAsVector),progressTime.deltaTime);

                   // PitchAngle := RadToDeg(AngleVect.V[0]);
                   // TurnAngle := RadToDeg(AngleVect.V[1]); OR ????
                    RollAngle := AngleVect.V[2];
                 end;

               Idx := Path.CurrentNodeIndex;
                NodePoint4 := TempNode;
                if Idx>3 then
                begin
                  NodePoint3 := Path.Nodes.Items[Idx-1];
                  NodePoint2 := Path.Nodes.Items[Idx-2];
                  NodePoint1 := Path.Nodes.Items[Idx-3];
                end
                else
                begin
                  NodePoint3 := Path.Nodes.Items[Idx+1];
                  NodePoint2 := Path.Nodes.Items[Idx+2];
                  NodePoint1 := Path.Nodes.Items[Idx+3];
                end; *)

                Position.AsVector := Path.CurrentNode.FPosition;
                Scale.AsVector    := Path.CurrentNode.FScale;

               PitchAngle := Path.CurrentNode.PitchAngle;
                TurnAngle := Path.CurrentNode.TurnAngle;
                RollAngle := Path.CurrentNode.RollAngle;

              end;

              rmUpDirection:
              begin
              // first compute absolute attitude for pointing
              (*  EXPERIMENTAL CODE

                NodePoint1 :=Path.CurrentNode;
                Idx := Path.CurrentNodeIndex;
                NodePoint4 := Path.Nodes.Items[Idx+1];
                absDir := VectorSubtract(NodePoint4.PositionAsVector, NodePoint1.PositionAsVector);
                NormalizeVector(absDir);

                // YHmgVector value must be set thrue a property
                absRight := VectorCrossProduct(absDir,YHmgVector);
                NormalizeVector(absRight);
                absUp := VectorCrossProduct(absRight, absDir); *)

                Position.AsVector := Path.CurrentNode.FPosition;
                Scale.AsVector    := Path.CurrentNode.FScale;
               // Direction.AsVector := absDir;
               // Up.AsVector := absUp;

                Direction.AsVector := Path.CurrentNode.FDirection;
                Up.AsVector := Path.CurrentNode.FUp;
              end;
            else
              Assert(False, glsErrorEx + glsUnknownType);
            end
          end;
      end;
    end;
end; 

Doubt3)) Yes check terrain heightfield demos and on this forum. a topic exist wich was not published a long time ago about this

Doubt 4) Take a look at the SphereSweep demo in Examples branches

See you soon ;)

[Sergio]

Hi Jerome Thank you for your suggestions. I am working with them and advanced in some points but not in all. Next days I will post here a new code version with improvements. I am trying to include all the “concepts” and do some tests before bringing the components of my previous code into here. Remember that this discussion stared because the FPS of my previous code was very low.
To maintain the actor in the vertical was easy and needed only to use the Rotate as (0,0,0) I all the nodes. To make the loop continuous needs only to do Path.Looped := True; About making the feet of the actor touch the floor I think the best thing is to do “manually” adjusting the height. For the collisions, you will see in the next code. I am trying to replace the GLODEDynamic I used in the previous code by the NGDdynamic used in Newton examples. Is there any advantage?
My main doubt is about the use of TGLmovements. I read the code and seems to have some possibilities inside that are not accessible. The only thing I need to have the actor looking straight to the path is to set the movement Direction equal to the actor UP property ( or maybe using PointTo. The problem is that it seems that the movement Direction is not accessible. Inside the procedure
I saw there the function GetPositionCoordinate and the function GetDirectionCoordinate but the question is: how to use them ?
I will write soon. Cheers